
POWER ADJUSTABLE FOOT PEDALS (IF EQUIPPED)
The accelerator and brake pedal
should only be adjusted when the
vehicle is stopped and the gearshift
lever is in the P (Park) position.
The control is located on the left
side of the steering column. Press
and hold the rear of the control to
move the pedals toward you. Press
and hold the front of the control to
move the pedals away from you.
WARNING:Never adjust the accelerator and brake pedal with
feet on the pedals while the vehicle is moving.
The accelerator and brake pedal positions are saved when doing a
memory set function and can be recalled along with the vehicle
personality features when a memory position is selected. Refer to
Memory featurein theSeating and Safety Restraintschapter.
SPEED CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED)
With speed control set, you can maintain a set speed without keeping
your foot on the accelerator pedal.
WARNING:Do not use the speed control in heavy traffic or on
roads that are winding, slippery or unpaved.
Using speed control
The speed controls are located on the steering wheel. The following
buttons work with speed control:
SET:Press to set a speed or to
increase or decrease the set speed.
RES (Resume):Press to resume
the set speed.
CNCL (Cancel):Press to cancel
the set speed.
ON/OFF:Press to turn speed
control on or off.
Driver Controls
103
2011 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Setting speed control
To set speed control:
1. Press ON upward and release.
2. Accelerate to the desired speed.
3. Press SET upward and release.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
5. The indicator
light on the instrument cluster will turn on.
Note:
•Vehicle speed may vary momentarily when driving up and down a
steep hill.
•If the vehicle speed increases above the set speed on a downhill, you
may want to apply the brakes to reduce the speed.
•If the vehicle speed decreases more than 10 mph (16 km/h) below
your set speed on an uphill, your speed control will disengage.
Disengaging speed control
To disengage the speed control, press the brake pedal or press and release
CNCL. Disengaging the speed control will not erase the previous set speed.
Resuming a set speed
Press and release RES. This will automatically return the vehicle to the
previously set speed.
Increasing speed while using speed control
To set a higher speed:
•Press SET upward and hold until you get to the desired speed, then
release. You can also use SET to operate the tap-up function. Press
SET upward and release to increase the vehicle set speed in 1 mph
(1.6 km/h) increments.
•Use the accelerator pedal to get to the desired speed then press SET
upward and release.
Reducing speed while using speed control
To reduce a set speed:
•Press SET downward and hold until you get to the desired speed,
then release. You can also use SET to operate the tap-down function.
Press SET downward and release to decrease the vehicle set speed in
1 mph (1.6 km/h) increments.
•Press the brake pedal until the desired vehicle speed is reached then
press SET downward and release.
Driver Controls
104
2011 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Turning off speed control
To turn off the speed control, press OFF downward or turn off the ignition.
Note:When you turn off the speed control or the ignition, your speed
control set speed memory is erased.
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) (IF EQUIPPED)
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is much like speed control, only this
system is designed to automatically adjust your speed to maintain a
proper distance between you and the vehicle in front of you in the same
lane. The driver can select from one of four GAP settings, the controls
are located on the steering wheel.
At startup, the system sets the gap
to the last selected setting. Once
activated, the driver can deactivate
the system at any time by pressing
the brake pedal, pressing the
steering wheel ON/OFF control or pressing the RES/CNCL control. In
addition, the driver can temporarily increase the vehicle speed above the
current speed by manually pressing on the accelerator pedal.
WARNING:Always pay close attention to changing road
conditions, especially when using adaptive cruise control.
Adaptive cruise control cannot replace attentive driving. Failing to
follow any of the warnings below or failing to pay attention to the road
may result in a collision, serious injury or death.
WARNING:Adaptive cruise control is not a collision warning or
avoidance system. Additionally, adaptive cruise control will not
detect:
•Stationary or slow moving vehicles below 6 mph (10 km/h).
•Pedestrians or objects in the roadway.
•Oncoming vehicles in the same lane.
WARNING:Do not use the adaptive cruise control when
entering or leaving a highway, in heavy traffic or on roads that
are winding, slippery or unpaved.
WARNING:Do not use in poor visibility, specifically fog, rain,
spray or snow.
Driver Controls
105
2011 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Following a vehicle
WARNING:When following a vehicle in front of you, the vehicle
will not decelerate automatically to a stop, nor will the vehicle
always decelerate quickly enough to avoid a collision without driver
intervention. Always apply the brakes when necessary. Failing to do so
may result in a collision, serious injury or death.
When a vehicle ahead of you enters the same lane or a slower vehicle is
ahead in the same lane, the vehicle speed will adjust automatically to
maintain a preset gap distance. The distance setting is adjustable, refer
toSetting the gap distancein this section.
The lead vehicle graphic will be illuminated.
The vehicle will maintain a constant distance between the vehicle ahead
until:
•The vehicle in front of you accelerates to a speed above the set speed.
•The vehicle in front of you moves out of your lane or out of view.
•The vehicle speed falls below 16 mph (26 km/h).
•A new gap distance is set.
The vehicle brakes will be automatically applied to slow the vehicle to
maintain a safe distance between the vehicle in front. The maximum
braking which is applied by the ACC system is limited and can be
overridden by the driver applying the brakes.
If the ACC system predicts that its
maximum braking level will not be
sufficient, an audible warning will
sound while the ACC continues to
brake. This is accompanied by a
heads-up display; a red warning bar
illuminating on the windshield. The driver should takeimmediate
action.
Note:The brakes may emit a sound when they are being modulated by
the adaptive cruise control system.
WARNING:Adaptive cruise control only warns of vehicles
detected by the radar sensor. In some cases there may be no
warning or the warning may be delayed. The driver should always
apply the brakes when necessary. Failing to do so may result in a
collision, serious injury or death.
Driver Controls
107
2011 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Setting the gap distance
The distance between your vehicle
and the vehicle in front of you can
be decreased or increased by
pressing the GAP control up or
down. The selected gap will be
displayed in the message center as shown by the bars in the graphic.
Four gap distance settings are available.
Graphic
display (bars
between
vehicles)Following
distanceFollowing
distance at
60 mph
(100 km/h)Dynamic
behavior
1 bar 1 second 29 yards (28 m) Sporty
2 bars 1.5 seconds 44 yards (42 m) Normal
3 bars 1.9 seconds 56 yards (53 m) Normal
4 bars 2.3 seconds 66 yards (64 m) Comfort
Each time the vehicle is restarted, the last chosen gap for the current
driver will be automatically selected.
Note:It is the driver’s responsibility to select a gap appropriate to the
driving conditions.
Disengaging adaptive cruise control
Press the brake pedal or press CNCL to disengage the adaptive cruise
control. The last set speed will be displayed with a strikethrough.
Disengaging the adaptive cruise control will not erase your previous set
speed.
Overriding adaptive cruise control
WARNING:Whenever the driver is overriding the ACC by
pressing the accelerator pedal, the ACC will not automatically
apply the brakes to maintain separation from any vehicle ahead.
The set speed and gap distance can be overridden by pressing the
accelerator pedal.
When the driver is overriding ACC, the green
ACC light is
illuminated, and the follow vehicle is not displayed in the message
center. When the accelerator is released, the ACC function will operate
again and vehicle speed will decrease to the set speed, or a lower speed
if following a slower vehicle.
Driver Controls
108
2011 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Changing the set speed
There are three ways to change the set speed:
•Accelerate or brake to the desired speed and press SET upward and
release.
•Increase or decrease the speed by holding SET upward or downward
until the desired set speed is shown on the message center. The
vehicle speed will gradually change to the selected speed.
•Increase or decrease the speed in increments of 1 mph (2 km/h) by
briefly pressing the SET upward or downward.
The ACC may apply the brakes to slow the vehicle down to the new set
speed. The set speed will display continuously in the message center
while ACC is active.
Resuming the set speed
Press and release RES/CNCL. This will automatically return the vehicle
to the previously set speed. The set speed will display continuously in
the message center while ACC is active.
Note:Resume should only be used if the driver is aware of the set speed
and intends to return to it.
Low speed automatic cancellation
ACC is not functional at vehicle speeds below 16 mph (26 km/h). Once
the vehicle speed drops below 16 mph (26 km/h), an audible alarm will
sound and the automatic braking will be released.
Hilly condition usage
It is recommended that the driver select a lower gear position when ACC
is active in situations such as prolonged downhill driving on steep grades
(i.e., driving in mountainous areas). In these situations, additional engine
braking is needed to reduce the load on the vehicle’s regular brake
system to prevent them from overheating. For more information,
referenceAutomatic transmission operationin theDrivingchapter.
Note:If ACC is applying brakes for an extended period of time, an
audible alarm will sound and ACC will shut down. This is to allow the
brakes to cool down. When the brakes have cooled down, the ACC will
again function normally.
Turning off cruise control
Press OFF to turn off the cruise control.
Note:When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your cruise
control set speed memory is erased.
Driver Controls
109
2011 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

•There may be issues with the detection of vehicles in front when
driving into and coming out of a bend or curve in the road.
In these cases ACC may brake late or unexpectedly. The driver should
stay alert and intervene when necessary.
ACC Not Available
Several conditions exist which can cause ACC to deactivate or prevent
ACC from activating when requested. These conditions include:
•The sensor is blocked, refer toBlocked sensorin this section.
•
Brake temperature is high, refer toHilly condition usagein this section.
•A failure has occurred in the ACC system or related system.
Blocked sensor
If a message regarding a blocked
sensor is displayed, the radar signals
from the sensor have been
obstructed. The sensor is located
behind a fascia cover near the driver
side of the lower grille. When the
radar signals are obstructed, a
vehicle ahead cannot be detected
and the ACC will not function. The
following table lists possible causes
and actions for this message being
displayed.
Driver Controls
111
2011 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Cause Action
The surface of the radar in the grille
is dirty or obstructed in some wayClean the grille surface in front of
the radar or remove the object
causing the obstruction
The surface of the radar in the grille
is clean but the message remains in
the displayWait a short time. It may take
several minutes for the radar to
detect that it is no longer obstructed
Heavy rain or snow is interfering
with the radar signalsDo not use ACC in these condition
because it may not detect, warn, or
respond to potential collisions.
Swirling water, or snow or ice on the
surface of the road may interfere
with the radar signalsDo not use ACC in these condition
because it may not detect, warn, or
respond to potential collisions.
WARNING:Do not use ACC when towing a trailer with brake
controls. Aftermarket trailer brakes will not function properly
when ACC is activated because the brakes are electronically controlled.
Failing to do so may result in loss of vehicle control, which could result
in serious injury.
WARNING:Do not use tires sizes other than those
recommended because this can affect the normal operation of
ACC. Failing to do so may result in a loss of vehicle control, which
could result in serious injury.
Switching to normal cruise control
You can manually change from adaptive cruise control (ACC) to normal
cruise control through the message center. Refer toMessage centerin
theInstrument Clusterchapter. If normal cruise control is selected, the
ACC indicator light will be replaced with a
cruise control indicator
light. The gap setting will not be displayed, the system will not
automatically respond to lead vehicles and automatic braking will not be
activated. The system will default to ACC when the engine is started.
WARNING:Normal cruise control will not brake due to slower
vehicles. Always be aware of which mode is selected and apply
the brakes when necessary.
Driver Controls
112
2011 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)